Tag Archives: lunch bags

Smigglean Australian stationery brand has hit the UK by storm over the last year or so, with it’s 100th store opening last weekend at the Drake Circus shopping centre in Plymouth. I was invited along to take a look around and see what exciting goodies the store has to offer as although I’ve heard and seen glimpses of the store online I’ve never actually visited one in person.

The first thing you can’t fail to notice as you enter the store are the neatly lined rows of brightly coloured goods, almost so many you don’t know where to look first. It’s like being a kid in a sweet shop as you eye up the rows of treats wondering which one to choose first. The shop is very pleasing on the eye and although similar items are spread across the store they are displayed in a colour coded manner.

Whether you want pink, purple, blue or aqua, Smiggle has it all but not only are their products colourful, they are oozing with fun designs and unusual features that stand out from traditional stationery products. The range of pencil cases is vast and they are packed with cute details that it’s hard to choose between them. I thought the range of drinks bottles were particularly fun and quirky being made of squeezy silicone that can be rolled up when empty to save space!

Not only do they have lots of bright and pastel colours but they also have a vast range of blues, greens and blacks so there really is something to suit everyone’s tastes. They had a good selection of lunch bags that looked really cool and perfect for keeping your food protected ready for lunchtimes.

Something I haven’t mentioned is that a lot of the products are actually scented with fun fruity fragrances, you can’t fail to pick up something without having a sniff, making it that much more appealing to drop into your basket to buy. Of the more unusual products that I spotted were some fun glittery silicone digital watches that display the time when you press them and some funky headphones that kids will love. There were also some fun animal shaped water spray fans to keep you cool in the Summer, I really liked these as did my children.

A new range to hit Smiggle shops is ‘besties’, a collection of six limited edition character pencil cases and key rings in pastel shades with cute faces. We tried out a key ring below which was scented in strawberry and we can’t stop sniffing it!

A really different style of pencil case which will really keep you organised is the one above, a small carry style bag with a handle and zip up pocket on the back. You can unzip three sizes to reveal a fold out section with four sides to slot all of your pens and pencils into – no more searching around in the deep depths of a traditional pencil case for your favourite pen. We also tried the Neon scented gel pens which as you can imagine smell very fruity. Each come in a different shade and fruit scent and they also come in a handy snap close case. They also work incredibly well giving a really vibrant shade to write with.

Overall I’m really impressed with Smiggle, not only for the amazingly bright and scented range of products available but also the quality seems to be good, the pens are lovely to write with, the pencil cases are well thought out with lots of zips and pockets and the keyrings among other things smell delicious.

Whether you are young or a little bit older and love stationery then be sure to check out your nearest Smiggle store for a really fun stationery experience that can’t fail to make you smile with it’s bright, happy vibe.

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Belo & Me have just the cutest little jute bags that are perfect for packing your lunch into to take to work or on a little picnic. The idea of using jute bags is an environmentally friendly one, rather than using endless plastic bags on a daily basis. The jute fibre is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable.

I was sent the pink heart jute bag to try out for my lunches at work each day. I have to be honest and say that I usually use a plastic food bag and although reuse it for a few days, it soon ends up in the bin and I reach for a new one out the box.

The bag is made of a thick jute with strong handles and a laminated lining that can be wiped clean. The base is 20 x 15cm and the side of the bag is 20cm high. I packed my normal lunch for work consisting of a salad in a plastic box and some other bits. The plastic box easily fitted into the base of the bag and the other items stacked on top nicely.

I was quite happy that all items were safely inside the bag and found it easy to carry to work alongside my handbag.

I did get comments from everyone in the office saying “What a cute bag”, “Where did you get your bag from?” so it was definitely noticed and admired.

I think this is a cute bag, great for the summer months although I’d need something a bit more protective in the winter. It’s great that it’s reusable and being strong will hopefully last.

These jute bags aren’t just lunch bags, they can be used for anything, some suggested ideas on their website are party bags and gift bags etc. Why not check out the Belo & Me website and see the many different designs and colours available?

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the bag in order to write the review.